12 December 2023, Sydney -- An Australian digital artist, Paul Brown, has been bestowed with the prestigious "Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement in Digital Art" by ACM SIGGRAPH. This accolade, one of the field of computer graphics and interactive techniques highest honors, was awarded at SIGGRAPH Asia 2023 today. Brown, acclaimed for his groundbreaking work in computational art, generative systems, and cellular automata, has become the first Australian and the third British artist (owing to his dual citizenship) to receive this distinguished award.
This award is testament to Brown's pioneering efforts and significant contributions to the digital art landscape. It acknowledges his innovative approach and enduring commitment to the field, which have not only advanced the practice of digital art but created new pathways for fellow digital artists and technologists worldwide.
In a parallel honor, Singaporean Associate Professor Yong Tsui (YT) Lee was also recognized at the SIGGRAPH Asia 2023 Opening Ceremony. Lee received the “Outstanding Service Award” for his exceptional contributions to the computer graphics community in Asia, notably for his role in founding and nurturing the SIGGRAPH Asia Conference.
This recognition of Paul Brown and YT Lee underscores ACM SIGGRAPH's commitment to honoring individuals who have profoundly impacted the fields of digital art and computer graphics, both artistically and academically.
ACM SIGGRAPH is a special interest group within the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) that focuses on computer graphics and interactive techniques. The acronym SIGGRAPH stands for Special Interest Group on Computer GRAPHics and Interactive Techniques.
About Paul Brown:
Paul Brown, born in 1947 in England, has been a seminal figure in the intersection of art, science, and technology since the 1960s. His works, which explore the realms of computational, generative, and code art, are held in high esteem globally. Brown's contributions are evident in his wide-ranging exhibits and his role in shaping the digital art discourse.
About Yong Tsui (YT) Lee:
Yong Tsui (YT) Lee, with over 30 years of experience, is an Associate Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Starting his career as a math teacher in Malaysia, he later earned advanced degrees in solid modeling and CAD/CAM from the University of Leeds and the University of Rochester. A key figure in the establishment of SIGGRAPH Asia, Lee's contributions have significantly influenced digital art and computer graphics. He is also known for his passion for nature and mentoring students, especially in guiding them to graduation. His work with ACM SIGGRAPH, including founding the Singapore Chapter and chairing the SIGGRAPH Asia Advisory Group, highlights his commitment to both academic and artistic aspects of his field.
About The Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement in Digital Art:
Presented by ACM SIGGRAPH, this award acknowledges artists who have significantly contributed to the development and evolution of digital art. It honors those who have demonstrated a lifelong dedication to the aesthetic, creative, and technical dimensions of digital art, marking them as pioneers in this ever-evolving field.
Note to Editors:
Paul Brown Biography
Paul Brown, born in 1947 in Halifax, UK, is a celebrated artist and writer who has been a prominent figure in the art, science, and technology fields since the late 1960s. Specializing in computational and generative art since the mid-1970s, Brown has a rich history in creating large-scale lighting works for renowned musicians and performance groups, including Meredith Monk, Musica Elettronica Viva, and Pink Floyd.
Educated in Fine Art with honors from CNAA in 1977 and in Experimental and Computing at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London in 1979, Brown has been a pivotal contributor to the art community. His significant involvement with SIGGRAPH includes roles such as Chair of the Art Papers in 2006, a member of various committees, and a repeated exhibitor in the Art Show. In 1986, he founded the SIGGRAPH London Local Group and has been an influential figure in SIGGRAPH Asia.
Brown's exhibition record is extensive, with participation in over 140 group shows since 1967, including 13 solo exhibitions and curation of numerous media arts exhibitions. His work has been displayed at prestigious venues worldwide, such as the TATE, Victoria & Albert, ICA in the UK, the National Academy of Sciences in the USA, ARCO in Spain, and the Venice Biennale. His art is held in several esteemed collections, including 23 works in the Victoria & Albert Museum's National Computer Arts Collection and 12 works in the US National Academy of Sciences Permanent Collection.
As an author and editor, Brown has contributed significantly to the field with over 180 publications, including academic papers, feature articles, and reviews, and has served on editorial boards for prominent journals like Digital Creativity and Leonardo.
Brown's educational contributions are equally noteworthy. He founded several undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Media Arts across the UK, USA, and Australia, supervised numerous PhDs, and was the founding head of the UK's National Centre for Computer Aided Art and Design at Middlesex Polytechnic.
In terms of service, he has chaired the Management Boards of the Computer Arts Society and the Australian Network for Art & Technology (ANAT), among other roles. His awards and recognitions include a New Media Arts Fellowship from the Australia Council for the Arts and over AU$3 million in grants for media arts research and personal development.
Paul Brown, now a dual citizen of the UK and Australia, continues to be a leading figure in the intersection of art and technology, renowned for his innovative approach and contributions to the field.
For more detailed information about Paul Brown's achievements and contributions to digital art, please refer to this biodata and links. Interviews and additional insights may be available upon request.
Yong Tsui (YT) Lee Biography
Yong Tsui (YT) Lee is an Associate Professor at the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, a position he has held for over 30 years. His initial career began as a math teacher in Serian, Sarawak, Malaysia, after his A-levels and before attending university. YT Lee completed his formal education at the University of Leeds in England, earning his BSc and PhD in solid modeling and CAD/CAM, and his Masters at the University of Rochester.
Lee's involvement with ACM SIGGRAPH started in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a student, focusing on solid modeling and CAD/CAM, which were prominent in SIGGRAPH at the time. He played a pivotal role in the inception of SIGGRAPH Asia, driven by his desire to broaden the audience for the SIGGRAPH brand. Outside his professional commitments, Lee is a nature enthusiast, cultivating a garden with both edible and aesthetic plants at his university campus.
Mentored by Herbert Voelcker and Ari Requicha at the University of Rochester, Lee learned the essentials of conducting research and writing technical reports, which have benefitted his career significantly. He initiated the Singapore Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH in the late 1990s, becoming deeply involved in the organization's activities. His contributions led to the establishment of the first SIGGRAPH Asia conference in 2008, where he served as the chair, followed by a decade-long tenure as chair of the SIGGRAPH Asia Advisory Group. Lee expresses pride in the growth and success of SIGGRAPH Asia and takes particular satisfaction in guiding struggling students to graduation.